Following in the footsteps of RockShox and Fox, Magura has also entered the battle of electronic suspension with its new eLECT technology with automatic lockout. Surprisingly, it is simple, lightweight, and most importantly, it seems to actually work.

The beauty of the eLECT damper lies in its simplicity of use. The system automatically detects the angular orientation of the fork relative to the ground using a 3D accelerometer – the same type found in many modern smartphones. In other words, eLECT understands whether you are riding on a flat road, climbing uphill, or descending a slope.

In the default setting, the system remains open when riding straight or downhill, but locks out when riding uphill. You can adjust the settings by calibrating the system to your needs (for example, on a slope instead of flat ground). Alternatively, you can use manual control by activating the Bluetooth switch on the handlebar. There is even a “free fall” mode for a soft landing after jumps, even when the fork is facing forward (for example, after landing on the rear wheel first).

Additionally, eLECT recognizes when you are riding uphill and encounter a rough section. In such cases, the system opens up with a claimed response time of 0.2 seconds, and then locks out again on smooth ground.

Magura uses the same simple approach to the mechanical design of the eLECT damper. A small internal servo motor rotates a steel washer with three holes at the end of the piston.

The well-thought-out design allows for longer battery life of the built-in Li-ion battery. The washer weighs almost nothing, and the electric motor is only used to switch between the closed and open positions. The LED indicators also only light up during mode changes or system calibration.

The claimed operating time in automatic mode is 40 hours of movement, and manual adjustment can increase it to 60 hours. In any case, the damper battery can be charged using a micro-USB port hidden under a cap. The remote control operates on a watch battery. In case of complete battery depletion, the washer defaults to the open mode.

Cyclists are already used to the fact that electronically controlled suspensions are heavier than purely mechanical systems. But in this case, the new eLECT system will be the lightest offering from the company. The damper itself weighs only 81 grams, plus a 12-gram remote switch. In total, all of this is 15 grams lighter than the Magura DLO2 damper.

But that’s not all: eLECT is perfect for replacing dampers on any Magura TS6 or TS8 forks without any extra adjustments, but it is still better suited for off-road riding. Magura is still finalizing details such as fork model options, upgrade kits, price forecasts, and delivery dates. Considering the simplicity of the system, we hope that the price won’t be too high.

First trip: everything really works!

We tested the new eLECT damper with the Magura TS8 120 29″ fork on a rocky trail. In short, everything works as advertised, although we wouldn’t mind a slightly modified firmware and more freedom in customization.

As promised, eLECT does not interfere with the suspension’s performance on flat ground and slopes: the valve is open – the system is open. However, if you tilt the fork upwards when riding on a slope, you will immediately feel how the front becomes rigid and does not move when you turn the handlebars or pedal while standing. Moreover, throughout the entire test, we were completely satisfied with the automatic mode of operation, allowing the small electronic brain to think for us.

We wouldn’t mind if eLECT reacted to changes in terrain a little faster: 0.2 seconds is already a whole meter at a modest speed of 20 km/h, and on challenging trails, that meter is enough to give you a good shake. We would also like to be able to manually adjust the threshold, which would help soften the initial impacts before the valve opens.

For example, there was a section where a relatively soft ascent transitioned into a steep technical section. Ideally, such places should be passed at full speed to quickly get through them, but eLECT thinks that we still need a stiff fork, while it would be better for it to be softer.

Nevertheless, thoughts about the reliability of such technologies creep into our minds. In general, we will not rush to make final conclusions and will wait for the release of the production model, but for now, eLECT looks very promising.